Envelop-fastener.



M. VIERBNGEL. ENVBLOP PASTENER. APPLICATION mum MARI-27, 1911,

1,061,341 a Patentefl ma 13, ms.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

un-aw VIERENGEL, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

1 ENVELbP-FASTENER.

-teners, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to the shape or form of envelop fasteners. I. The primary object of this invention, 1s

to provide an improved shapejor form forenvelop fasteners by. means of whichthe pliable, tough, and substantially no'n-'elast1c sheetmetal out of'which said fasteners are:

constructed will be rendered stiff and inflexible throughout the flap holding portions of the Wings without in any degree reducing its soft flexibility adjacent the centraltable or body of the fasteners.

Toward the attainment of this-end my invention contemplates the provision of envelop fasteners havin their prongs or wings arched transverse y the depth-of the arch being preferably greatest at their outer ends and reduced gradually to a fiat neck or connecting band adjacent the central table or body.

-In the accompanying drawings which exemplify an adaptation of-my invention to a well-known type of envelop, Figure l is a plan view of the fastener applied to the under section of an envelop with the folding flap open. Fig. 2 is a plan View, showing the envelop folding flap clamped down in sealed position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fastener as it is struck out. Fig. 4 is a section on line w, m, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sect-ion on line 7), a, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on line s, 's, Fig. 4. Fig. -7 is a plan view of a modified form of fastener, hav ing a single clamping wing. Fig. 8 is a l side elevation of the fastener shown in Fig.

7, attached to the envelop.

1 represents the envelop, having the folding'fiap 2, formed with the marginally reinforced aperture 3. I

4 represents the underlying marginal edge of the body folding flap 2 when sealed.

5 represents the metallic fastener cut cross-shaped and comprising the body portion 5, having tangs 6, which are bent downward and entered and clenched into I the body portion 4. of the envelop. 7 represents the clamping portions of the specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 27, 1911.

Patented May-13, 1913. Serial No. 617,147.

fastener, rounded at their outer .edg arched. transversely by forming them. I hollows 8 in their under faces, see'Fig'sgy 5 and '6. lhese' hollows are preferably-to minated a little short of the central tableor body portions 5", providing the intermediate bendin necks 9, adjacent 'the fangs thwfhich necks being flat, permit the wmgslowfb: readily -flexed att-his point.

Fig.1, are bent upwardly intoalinement with the aperture 3, and as th. flan 2 is} of the envelop covered by the' folded downwardly pass through said 'aperture," after which the wings are bent downwardly. into-clampin position, as shown in Fig. 2,- in which pos tionthey lie upon the, outer surface of the folded flap 2. g Y 5 Referring to Figs. 7 and-'8, this modified form of fastener has a single convex clamping'wing 7?, a fiat portion 9 bodyportion 9 and three tangs 6f, ,6, 6 The tangs 6 6 being substantially long afford anextended bearing surface to overcome the .I f strain occurring in bending the Wing 7}, thereby preventing the fastener from being torn out of the envelop. h j By imparting the transversely arched" structure to the wings, they are made sub-; stantially rigid except" at their bending necks. The user can more readilymanipm late the wings without bruising or cuttm the fingers, and the'wings thus constructe do notreadily cut the paper ma become accidentally opened by catching on adjacent packages. Furthermore, by reason ofthe wings being made to .bend always at the flat neck, adjacent the central table or body, much annoyance is done away with thatv is met with in using the ordinary fiat soft metal wings which become kinked and bent at a number of different places by repeated manipulations. In this eventit' is always diflicult to make the wings fit snugly'to the flap so that the outwardly projecting points or kinks commonly snag other mail pieces or become snagged in such' a way as to not uncommonly re ease the flap and cause loss of the contents. Theconvexediouter wall in connection with the flat "bending neck overcomes these difliculties completelyand moreover said convex wallsserve to deflect the sharp corners and the like of other mail 4 packages, thus preventing the flap being 're-' lease Having described my invention, I claim 1. An envelop fastener constructed of In use, the wings disposed as-shown n bendable substantially inelastic metal comprising an attaching portion formed with means whereby it is adapted to be fastened to the body of anenvelop, and a wing which is arched transversely to stiifen it and prevent itsbody being bent on itself, the arched formation of said wing being terminated dgacent-the portion to. beattached to the ".e'lop to adapt the wing to be disposed normal to the envelop body for receiving the flap and. to be folded down-into )osition parallelto the envelop to retain t e flap 1n closed position. I

2. An envelop fastener constructed of bendable substantially .inelastic metal comn prising an attaching ortion formed with means whereby it is a apted to be fastened to 'the bod of an envelopiand wings which are arche transversely to stiffen them and prevent their bodies from bending on them- 30 selves, the arched formation of said wings being terminated adjacent to theportion to be attached to the envelo to adapt the wings to be-disposed norma to the envelop body for receivmgthe flap and to be folded 25 down into position parallel to the envelop to retain the flap' 1n closed osition, the arched wings being arranged with their con vex faces outward," in folded down position a to facilitate the'wings being forced snugly 30 against theflap. 1 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

MATTHEW VIERENGEL. \Vitnesses LOUIS ULnRIoH,

CHARLES SCHNEIDER. 

